Originally Posted by pythagoras (Post 35387799)

http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/vmed/analyst-research

Now qualify your advice;)

regards

John

Originally Posted by rovert (Post 35387805)

Spoke to another VM customer today who when phoning to query the price change letter ended up with a £12 per month reduction in exchange for giving up what was supposedly a free Virgin tv service. Is there some logic in this?

Originally Posted by alwaysabear (Post 35387676)

This is not going to be good reading for VM executives although not representative it sends a clear message. http://www.vmhd.blogspot.com/

Originally Posted by Superblade7 (Post 35387887)

I think VM's obsession with superfast broadband may also be their undoing. I think it would be safe to say that for the vast majority of people a reliable 10Mb or 30Mb service would suffice for most needs. I would imagine the customer base for 50Mb and above is a relatively small percentage of VM's overall customers and therefore spending huge amounts of money on doubling broadband speeds is great but is it really what most customers want? I'd put my neck on the line and say probably not.

Originally Posted by Superblade7 (Post 35387887)

I know a lot of the money being spent is on network improvements so this can only be an advantage for the many areas that are currently oversubscribed but then by doubling everyone's speeds, the network improvements may not actually show if everyone gets extra bandwidth.

Originally Posted by Superblade7 (Post 35387887)

The price difference now between Sky and VM is becoming interesting. I am just using this as an example but for Sky World, Unlimited BB and Unlimited Phone it's £88 a month. For VIP on VM it's now £105.71. I appreciate there are a few differences (i.e. faster BB, extra STB) but it just shows the price difference.

Originally Posted by Superblade7 (Post 35387887)

I love my TiVo and I have always been relatively happy with VM but (in true David Cameron style) I personally could get "more for less" with Sky so whilst I could do without the hassle of switching and getting the dish / ADSL line installed, it's looking more and more attractive to me unless VM can deliver something exciting to make me stay before April.

Originally Posted by Superblade7 (Post 35387887)

I think that unless VM use some of their recently announced profit to significantly improve their TV / TiVo service soon, they are in real danger of loosing lots of customers over the coming year or two once Sky has access to BT Infinity as they will have all the content and fast broadband.

Originally Posted by Superblade7 (Post 35387887)

However, it's all a matter of opinion and everyone has to choose what is best for them within their own budget and entertainment needs.

Originally Posted by Superblade7 (Post 35387887)

The price difference now between Sky and VM is becoming interesting. I am just using this as an example but for Sky World, Unlimited BB and Unlimited Phone it's £88 a month. For VIP on VM it's now £105.71. I appreciate there are a few differences (i.e. faster BB, extra STB) but it just shows the price difference.

Originally Posted by spankysmagicpian (Post 35380264)

I'm going to move off the VIP50 now since I received my revised pricing letter. OK, it's only £5.XX but where does it end? If everyone who I take service from upped them by £5 it would soon mount up.

Is VIP20/30? still available? I can live with 30Mb until they get round to doubling it. (Shame about losing the HD Sports and movies though :-( )

Originally Posted by stereohaven (Post 35387895)

Couldn't agree more, in fact, if my 30MB connection was reliable and usable at all times of the day then it is unlikely I would be looking to leave already.

This quest for the greatest speed for advertising purposes has led them to lose sight of what's important IMHO. As you've said, the majority of Joe Public just want/need a reliable connection at a decent speed for a fair price and between 10 and 30MB is probably sufficient for the vast majority.

Unfortunately, sensible doesn't sell.



Again I agree and see the same dangers. Improvements may alleviate the problems I have experienced but for how long? What if I get my new 60MB connection and can't even stream YouTube which I struggle with now at certain times on 30MB?

The extra speed but lack of performance would drive me even more nuts than it does now!



If we ignore any "returning customer" offers, from the 1st April my comparable package on Sky (Entertainment Extra, Multiroom, HD Pack, Broadband and Phone Line) is now 75p a month cheaper than VM.

Of course it isn't a great deal of money difference, the Broadband is slower and I lose ESPN (which I don't really watch anyway), but I get extra calls included, some more channels in HD and most importantly, everything works as it should.

My parents have been with VM since the NYNEX days and it has always had the advantage of being cheaper than Sky for (give or take) a comparable package, until this year.

In fact they are moving soon and going to Sky as it is now better value for their needs. They don't need or want 10MB Broadband let alone 100MB for the sparse amount of web surfing they do and I'm sure they are not alone.



I guess we will soon find out if they are having trouble with churn if some very exciting news or offers starts being announced. :D

To be honest I think most people will moan about the increases and probably do nothing.



Yep, for me it's what happens next year in terms of price rises that will be more interesting because Sky will have their Fibre product bedded in properly and available much more widely. Then it will be as direct a comparison between packages/services as it's ever been.



Oh wouldn't it be dull if we all liked the same things. :)

---------- Post added at 09:01 ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 ----------



Just been thinking about this bit again as we do know Sky's Fibre Broadband pricing, so...

VM VIP = £105.71
Sky World (with Unlimited Fibre and Multiroom) = £110.75

Hmmmm....

Originally Posted by Superblade7 (Post 35387937)

Although with Sky multiroom is optional as opposed to VM where you have it with VIP whether you want it or not. So for people who don't require multiroom, choose Sky with the above package for £100.50 and you'd have far more content including HD and a comparable BB service!

Originally Posted by stereohaven (Post 35387944)

Ahhh I see, I didn't realise you got the extra box whether you want it or not.

Originally Posted by Superblade7 (Post 35387955)

No worries, I don't want to seem to be anti-VM as I am far from it, just that Sky seem to be steadily improving their offering whilst VM are left "coming soon"

Originally Posted by MrB (Post 35387964)

A number of people have mentioned waiting until the 1 April to decide whether to accept or reject the price rise. Will this work? Or do you have to give notice within X days of being notified of the planned price rise (so about now), otherwise you are deemed to have accepted the change?

MrB

Originally Posted by Superblade7 (Post 35387974)

Mr B, have a read back through this thread as I am sure either Ben or DF clarified this previously that you could do it within X days of the changes coming into effect on 1 April.

Originally Posted by MrB (Post 35388044)

Thank you - I have been reading the 49 pages of posts but haven't spotted the explicit clarification (even checked Ben and DFs posts and feel like a stalker, but still didn't spot it :confused:).

The T&Cs state:



It is the either/or that is confusing - either within 30 days of being notified of the change, or within 30 days of the change actually taking effect (and if you aren't notified, within 30 days of the first bill showing the rise). So if both you could effectively cancel (30 days notice) any time between getting the letter and end April/1st May?

I was not planning to leave as I am generally happy with my services and was with my price until this rise, but am getting tempting half-price return to Sky offers and was just weighing up how long I have got to decide/take action if required.

Many thanks

MrB

Originally Posted by alwaysabear (Post 35387676)

This is not going to be good reading for VM executives although not representative it sends a clear message. http://www.vmhd.blogspot.com/

Originally Posted by pythagoras (Post 35387799)

http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/vmed/analyst-research

Now qualify your advice;)

regards

John

Originally Posted by Superblade7 (Post 35387887)

I would agree with you bear as whilst it's only a small amount of people voting it gives a good indication of what the general feeling is.

I think VM's obsession with superfast broadband may also be their undoing. I think it would be safe to say that for the vast majority of people a reliable 10Mb or 30Mb service would suffice for most needs. I would imagine the customer base for 50Mb and above is a relatively small percentage of VM's overall customers and therefore spending huge amounts of money on doubling broadband speeds is great but is it really what most customers want? I'd put my neck on the line and say probably not.

I know a lot of the money being spent is on network improvements so this can only be an advantage for the many areas that are currently oversubscribed but then by doubling everyone's speeds, the network improvements may not actually show if everyone gets extra bandwidth.

The price difference now between Sky and VM is becoming interesting. I am just using this as an example but for Sky World, Unlimited BB and Unlimited Phone it's £88 a month. For VIP on VM it's now £105.71. I appreciate there are a few differences (i.e. faster BB, extra STB) but it just shows the price difference.

I love my TiVo and I have always been relatively happy with VM but (in true David Cameron style) I personally could get "more for less" with Sky so whilst I could do without the hassle of switching and getting the dish / ADSL line installed, it's looking more and more attractive to me unless VM can deliver something exciting to make me stay before April.

I think that unless VM use some of their recently announced profit to significantly improve their TV / TiVo service soon, they are in real danger of loosing lots of customers over the coming year or two once Sky has access to BT Infinity as they will have all the content and fast broadband.

However, it's all a matter of opinion and everyone has to choose what is best for them within their own budget and entertainment needs.